1 Thessalonians Chapter 4
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Introduction
THIS chapter, properly, comprises two parts: -- first, various practical exhortations, 1ff; and, secondly, suggestions designed to console those who had been bereaved, 13ff.
The first part embraces the following topics: --
(1.) an exhortation to increase and abound in the Christian virtues which they had already manifested, 1f.
(2.) A particular exhortation on the subject of sanctification, 3ff, in which two points are specified, probably as illustrations of the general subject, and embracing those in regard to which they were exposed to special danger. The first was fornication; the other was fraud.
(3.) An exhortation to brotherly love, 9f.
(4.) An exhortation to quiet industry, and to honesty in their dealings, particularly with those who were Christians, 11f. The second part is designed to comfort the Thessalonians who had been bereaved, 13ff. Some of their number had died. They appear to have been beloved members of the church, and dear blends of those to whom the apostle wrote. To console them he brings into view the doctrine of the second coming of the Saviour, and the truth that they would be raised up to live with him for ever. He reminds them that those who had died were "asleep" -- reposing in a gentle slumber, as if they were to be awakened again, 13; that they should not sorrow as they did who have no hope, 13; that if they believed that Jesus died and rose again, they ought to believe that God would raise up all those who sleep in Jesus, 14; that in the last day they would rise before the ]lying should be changed, and that the living would not be taken up to heaven and leave their departed friends in their graves, 15f; and that both the living and the dead would be raised up to heaven, and would be for ever with the Lord, 17. With this prospect, they had every ground of comfort which they could desire, and they should sustain each other in their trials by bright hope, 18.
Text
1: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. edit
2: For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. edit
3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: edit
4: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; edit
5: Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: edit
6: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. edit
7: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. edit
8: He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. edit
9: But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. edit
10: And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; edit
11: And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; edit
12: That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. edit
13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. edit
14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. edit
15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. edit
16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: edit
17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. edit
